Monday, May 17, 2010

Guest Post: Jill Mansell, Author of Rumor Has It

I don't read too many chick lit novels, but you can bet that when I hear about a newly released Jill Mansell novel, I'm all over it.  Mansell's novels are chick lit at its best.  Her books are humorous romances with quirky characters, and Rumor Has It is no exception.  You'll have to wait until tomorrow for my review, but you can read my reviews of An Offer You Can't Refuse, Miranda's Big Mistake, and Millie's Fling.

Today, I'm thrilled that Jill Mansell has stopped by Diary of an Eccentric to talk about her journey toward publication.  Please give a warm welcome to Jill Mansell.

My Road to Writing and What’s Next!

Hi there, and thanks for inviting me back to your lovely blog!  And what a great question too, because I know exactly where my road to writing started. I was in my early twenties, just married and very poor. Working in a hospital meant I was never going to earn a fortune. Then one day I happened to pick up a magazine in our hospital waiting room and inside was an article about women like me who had transformed their lives by becoming best-selling writers. Well, as you can imagine, I was enthralled by this idea. I decided to give it a try and started writing that very same day. OK, I was a bit unfocused for a while, basically not even knowing what I wanted to write, but I joined a local evening class in creative writing and it was a thrill to meet other people with the same goals. I settled on trying to write Harlequin/Mills and Boon books and wrote several. The publishers were lovely and said I could write, but that my style was too jokey, too lacking in emotional depth for them. So I made the decision to write the kind of book I would be interested in reading myself, with drama and quirky likeable characters and plenty of humour too.

I wrote the whole novel and sent it off to an agent, who said it wasn’t publishable because too much happened in it. A second agent then rejected it, saying that not enough happened in it. The price of posting the parcel and enclosing an SAE was a drain on my finances so the third agent was going to be my last. Luckily she loved my book and sold it within weeks to a great publisher. It was the most exciting time of my life. I have to say, people talk about the difficulty of writing the second book but I was so thrilled to have been accepted that the second novel flowed out of me in record time. That was the easiest one I’d ever written.

So that’s how it all started. I found my style, my writing niche, and twenty years later I’m still going strong. I don’t have ambitions to write a great literary novel – I’d far rather entertain people, make them laugh and cry and cheer them up. I have lovely readers and just hope I’ll never run out of ideas. My other hope is that I don’t die in the middle of a book. If I could just quietly keel over and pass away moments after writing those magic words The End, that would be perfect!

Thanks, Jill.  I wish you much success and look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

******

About the Jill Mansell

UK bestselling author Jill Mansell has written nearly twenty romances and women’s fiction novels and sold over 4 million books.  A master of romantic comedy, her smart, sassy style has an irresistible appeal for women of all ages.  A full-time writer, Ms. Mansell worked for many years at the Burden Neurological Hospital, Bristol. She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England. For more information, please visit http://www.jillmansell.co.uk/ or follow Jill on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JillMansell

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Rumor Has It -- In Stores May 2010

Would you be tempted?

Newly single, Tilly Cole impulsively accepts a job offer in a small town as a “Girl Friday.” Fun job, country house, fresh start, why not? But soon she finds herself in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the town’s most desirable bachelor—Jack Lucas.

Rumors of Jack’s “love ’em and leave ’em” escapes abound, and Tilly decides to do the mature, sensible thing...avoid Jack at all cost. But the more time Tilly spends with Jack, the more the rumors just don’t make sense. Tilly doesn’t know what to believe...and Jack’s not telling.

******

If you're interested in reading Rumor Has It, you're in luck.  Sourcebooks is offering copies to 2 lucky winners!  Just leave a comment with your e-mail address.  Because the publisher is shipping the books, this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only.  This giveaway will end Sunday, June 6 at 11:59 pm EST.  The winners will be chosen randomly.

Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate.


© 2010, Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not copy or reproduce content without permission.

37 comments:

Linda said...

I don't read a whole lot of 'chick lit' but I enjoy quirky characters. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

Serena said...

no need to enter me. what a great guest post. I really just need to hunker down don't i?!

bermudaonion said...

I love that Mansell doesn't aspire to "great literary" novels because her books are perfect just the way they are. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Debbie F said...

I love reading books that do not require too much thinking. I think we all have to read 'easy' reading books every now and then. Count me in on this one. Thanks

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Anonymous said...

I think this one looks like some fun summer reading! Please enter me!

janezfan(at)yahoo(dot)com

Suko said...

I enjoyed this guest post very much. Anna, please enter me in the giveaway. Something lighter to read sounds really good.

Suko95(at)gmail(dot)com.

Iliana said...

No need to enter me in the drawing as I'm reading this book now but just wanted to say thank you for the guest post!

I am really enjoying Rumor Has It. I can't believe it's taken me this long to "discover" her books!

Staci said...

I have one of her books and now I want to put down what I'm reading and get to that one!!

stacijoreads@gmail.com

windycindy said...

I like the romantic sound and the country setting of this story!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Booksnyc said...

I am a big fan of Brit Chick Lit but haven't read this author at all yet - sounds like one I need to read!

Thanks for hosting!

booksncity (at) gmail (dot) com

karenk said...

i'm interested reading this novel...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Mystica said...

Would love to win this for my daughter! Nice guest post.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Unknown said...

I would love to enter this giveaway... have recently read quite a few good reviews about this book. Also, I have been reading some heavy subject books recently and I think a chick-lit will sure be helpful to lighten up the mood... :)

archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com

- arch

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, babe. Not until I get the TBR under control.

I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Unknown said...

Please enter me. Sounds like a great read. Thank you for hosting the giveaway.

debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com

JHS said...

I'm in!

JHS
Colloquium

admin at jhsiess dot com

Alice said...

Hi Anna! Hi Jill! I don't really read chick lits but when I do, I enjoyed them.

I'm not eligible so there's no need to enter for me. Thanks!

Gwendolyn B. said...

I love Mansell's books! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of RUMOR HAS IT (I haven't seen the movie yet and I won't until I've read the book).

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Nancye said...

I have wanted this book for a while. Just yesterday I was drooling over it at the bookstore! Please include me in this giveaway!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

gcpeach17 said...

Thanks for the giveaway. Coun me in.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

Becky said...

I actually don't need to be entered into the giveaway, but wanted to say how cool it is to read the interview with Mansell. I just read this novel as well, and loved it. Jill Mansell is now one of my favorite reads and one that I'm ready to go out find out more about! Thanks. :)

Jo said...

Wow, sounds like a great poolside book for the summer! :)

jo.tee35(at)gmail(dot)com

Dawn M. said...

Sounds like a great summer book. Would love the chance to read it. Count me in, please! :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

toothybooks said...

Sounds like a great book.
I would love to win it

toothybooks@gmail.com

Jenna said...

Sounds good!! Id love to be entered

papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Kritters Ramblings said...

This book is definitely on my wishlist.

kdurham2@gmail.com

degood said...

This looks like a fun summer beach read.

kerrie@mayansfamily.com

Team JC said...

Please count me in. Thanks so much!
poolplayer712 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anita Yancey said...

This book sounds really good. I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Aik said...

I'd love to read this book!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I love quirky in anything!
Please enter me in this contest.

CarolNWong@aol.com

Stark Raving Shannon said...

I'd love to win this book. Sounds great!
starkravingshannon(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sue said...

This looks perfect for summer! Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Deb said...

I would love to read this book...Looks perfect for a day at the beach.

deborah150 at hotmail.com

holdenj said...

This looks like a great book, especially for summer! Thanks for the info and chance to win.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

A Musing Mother said...

I would love to read this book!

ntaylor228 at yahoo dot com

Anna said...

This giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to everyone who entered and/or promoted the giveaway. I really appreciate it. The winners will be chosen randomly and announced shortly.